Destroying the sting of death (Pt.2)

(Part 2 of 2)

“Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.”-Romans 6:9

Jesus came to dismiss the idea that life ends with death! He came to break the fear of death off of people’s lives and although the reality of death would remain, the fear of death would be destroyed. He did this through His own resurrection!

The crazy thing is-He had to die to defeat death. He had to prove that death had no dominion over Him. In fact, His death would become the avenue to life:

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”-John 12:24

Commentator Steve Clark described it like this:

“A seed can be very hard and look much like a little stone, lifeless; but once it falls into the ground, a process happens that could be described as death. The seed dies. That death, however, is not the end. Something inside that seed, something that was there all along,  is released and begins to live in a new way. It transforms the seed into something greater, a plant capable not only of growing but of giving rise to other plants like itself. Death can be life-giving depending on what is inside when the dying begins.”

The Apostle Paul also recognized death as an avenue to something greater:

“So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”-1 Corinthians 15:42-44

Christ’s resurrection took the sting out of death destroying the fear of the unknown; as He showed us the path to life and answering the fear of the known by demonstrating His power over death; giving us hope for today:

”So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”  “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”-1 Corinthians 15:54-55

The greatest news that mortal ear has ever heard is the news that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. It is the truth that lies at the very foundation of the Gospel. It is essential to our Christian faith. Without a belief in the resurrection there is no salvation:
“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”-Romans 10:9

In the resurrection of Jesus Christ we have the answer to the great question of the ages: “If mortals die, can they live again?” The Bible teaches that because Christ lives we also live:

“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”-1 Corinthians 15:20-22

Rev. Billy Graham after reflecting on this passage made this insightful statement and sums it all up nicely:

“The greatest truth that you can ever hear is that Jesus Christ died but rose again, and that you, too, will die but can rise again into newness of life.”

Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church